This month, I’m writing for all my fellow A/V folks in the trenches running campus events—because let’s be honest, May is chaos. It’s one of the busiest times of the year in higher ed. From awards banquets and spring picnics to end-of-year celebrations and, of course, Commencement, it feels like everything happens at once.
These events are high-profile. They’re meaningful. Families are traveling in, cameras are rolling, emotions are high—and the one thing that can completely ruin the moment?
Bad audio.
So let’s talk about it. More specifically, let’s talk about the two most common (and most frustrating) audio issues we face at live events: feedback and RF interference.
Feedback: The Unwelcome Guest at Every Podium
We’ve all been there. A soft-spoken speaker steps up to the mic, you nudge the gain up a bit—and BAM—that piercing screech cuts through the room. Classic feedback.
As a quick refresher: Feedback occurs when sound from a speaker loops back into the mic and is amplified repeatedly, causing that awful high-pitched squeal.
Most common causes?
Poor speaker placement
Too many open mics
Excessive gain
Tips to reduce feedback:
Start with the microphone’s pickup pattern. Do you really need an omnidirectional mic in a giant echo-prone room? Probably not. Switch to a tighter pattern, like a cardioid or supercardioid, to help reduce room noise and reflections. And while it doesn’t always work, a friendly reminder note on the lectern asking speakers to talk directly into the mic can go a long way. (No guarantees, but hey, you tried.)
Mute unused mics: Open mics = open invitations for trouble. Keep your channels clean and tight.
Increase the distance between the open microphone and the loudspeakers
RF Interference: Invisible, but Catastrophic
Now let’s talk about RF interference—the bane of every live A/V tech’s existence.
At a major campus event a few years ago, I spent hours coordinating a large number of wireless systems. Everything was set. Then, during a panel discussion—featuring the governor of Kentucky, no less—the mics started hissing and cutting out.
Turns out, a media outlet had plugged in an uncoordinated wireless transmitter into our press box after the event started, despite our prior notices about RF coordination. I unplugged it immediately and reminded them of the protocol.
Lesson learned: Sometimes, RF coordination is the last thing on an event techs mind, but it can soon become the first. Propper planning and use of and RF Coordination software is key when working large events with multiple wireless systems involved, or even on a campus where multiple systems are deployed in classrooms and event spaces.
Don’t rely solely on built-in antennas: Add paddle antennas for large coverage areas and keep antenna cables short.
Scan before every event: RF conditions can change daily. With the increase in sells of “affordable” wireless devices, many people are purchasing their own without consent and may plug them in to their own personal device to use for their karaoke party in room 213.
Educate your users: Teach them how to properly use a microphone—and why surprise wireless additions are a bad idea.
Plan It, Scan It, Teach It
Audio issues are stressful—especially when they pop up during Commencement, Convocation, or a live-streamed final lecture. But they don’t have to be mysterious.
With proper planning, consistent testing, and a strong grasp of feedback and RF fundamentals, you can make sure your systems deliver when it matters most.